AN ATTENTIVE funeral director who won a Pride in Our People award for taking extra care of bereaved families has retired after 43 years at the same company.

Barbara Grummitt, 65, has been a familiar face in Green-ford Broadway for more than four decades and was sad to retire from W Sherry & Sons' main branch, in Ruislip Road East, last Friday.

She won the business trophy at the Gazette's community awards in 2007 for her dedicated work, and despite the bleak nature of her trade, the grandmother of two admitted she had enjoyed the job.

She said: "It's a funny thing to say but I was good at it and that must have been the reason why I stayed for so long. It can be very gloomy and you've got to be careful to take time out from it or it can really get to

you. Death isn't always nice; it's not always a nice little old lady.

"It takes experience. It's the way we look after people. You have to treat every family and funeral as an individual even if you've got people waiting.

"If somebody comes in very, very distressed and then you

listen to them and if they leave with just a smile on their face, you feel you've done a good job."

Mrs Grummitt joined the company in 1968 with her husband George and took over as manager when he died in 1984.

She said that over the years, interesting song choices and

strange requests have brought some light relief at funerals.

"Music can be the biggest giggle. It's gone with the days of organs churning out miserable music. One lady came to us with a tape for I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire.

"And people sometimes ask if you can sneak in a couple of biscuits or a little bottle of whisky because that's all they wanted. They're nice sentimental things and mean a lot to the family."

Neil Richardson, rector of Holy Cross Church, in Oldfield Lane South, has worked with Mrs Grummitt for many years.

He said: "Barbara has worked carefully and consistently. The work requires a sensitivity to people and she has had the skill to turn around the confusion people bring as they enter the shop."

Mrs Grummitt hopes to enjoy her spare time at her allotment with her dog and helping her daughter, Caroline, and two grandsons. ..SUPL: